tinnitus Tinnitus

[OEF 21B]

I've filed a new claim for Tinnitus. My Post Deployment Health Reassessment form lists ringing in the ears and my VA PCP referred me for a complete audio exam.

Just wondering how the VA diagnosis this, and what they do during the C&P to "verify" that you actually have Tinnitus.

Thanks,

OEF 21B

[carlie]

There is no test for subjective Tinnitus as only the patient can hear it.

It needs to be diagnosed by an Audiologist and usually if you have a

hearing loss that is SC'd or a noisy MOS on active duty you will get granted.

The Tinnitus does not have to be so loud and bothersome that it restricts

you from doing anything - it just needs to be recurrent, mine is several times each week

and has been for over 30 years.

Tell the Audiologist when your Tinnitus began and whether or not it happens frequently.

[OEF 21B]

There is no test for subjective Tinnitus as only the patient can hear it.

It needs to be diagnosed by an Audiologist and usually if you have a

hearing loss that is SC'd or a noisy MOS on active duty you will get granted.

The Tinnitus does not have to be so loud and bothersome that it restricts

you from doing anything - it just needs to be recurrent, mine is several times each week

and has been for over 30 years.

Tell the Audiologist when your Tinnitus began and whether or not it happens frequently.

Thanks Carlie! I told the Audiologist that it was constant day and night and that it keeps me from going to sleep unless I have some background noise. I've got to go pick up a copy of my report and have my VSO send it down with my claim.

[Gulfvet45]

As stated there is no tests for it. If they ask about the ringing TELL them ALL OF THE TIME! other wise it will get turned down. next do you get dizzy with it? If so bring this up and add it to your claim as a secondary to your claim.

I've filed a new claim for Tinnitus. My Post Deployment Health Reassessment form lists ringing in the ears and my VA PCP referred me for a complete audio exam.

Just wondering how the VA diagnosis this, and what they do during the C&P to "verify" that you actually have Tinnitus.

Thanks,

OEF 21B

[carlie]

As stated there is no tests for it.

If they ask about the ringing TELL them ALL OF THE TIME! other wise it will get turned down.

next do you get dizzy with it? If so bring this up and add it to your claim as a secondary to your claim.

Gulfvet45,

You posted,

" If they ask about the ringing TELL them ALL OF THE TIME! other wise it will get turned down."

First of all THAT IS NOT TRUE !

Second of all - don't be trying to coach members into telling a doctor or the VA

something that may not be true !

6260 Tinnitus, recurrent........................................ 10

Note (1): A separate evaluation for tinnitus may be combined with an evaluation under diagnostic codes 6100, 6200, 6204, or other diagnostic code, except when tinnitus supports an evaluation under one of those diagnostic codes.

Note (2): Assign only a single evaluation for recurrent tinnitus, whether the sound is perceived in one ear, both ears, or in the head.

Note (3): Do not evaluate objective tinnitus (in which the sound is audible to other people and has a definable cause that may or may not be pathologic) under this diagnostic code, but evaluate it as part of any underlying condition causing it.

[Corwin]

There is no test for subjective Tinnitus as only the patient can hear it.

It needs to be diagnosed by an Audiologist and usually if you have a

hearing loss that is SC'd or a noisy MOS on active duty you will get granted.

The Tinnitus does not have to be so loud and bothersome that it restricts

you from doing anything - it just needs to be recurrent, mine is several times each week

and has been for over 30 years.

Tell the Audiologist when your Tinnitus began and whether or not it happens frequently.

Carlie,

After discharge in 1970, the VA tested me for hearing loss and tinnitus . While they did say I had suffered hearing loss in my left ear it wasn't sufficient for compensation. On the tinnitus, they said the same. They did acknowledge in the record that both the hearing loss and tinnitus were service connected. In talking to my VA case manager for an Agent Orange related presumptive disease claim last month, my case manager mentioned my old hearing and tinnitus claims. She asked how they were. When I told her that my hearing has progressively gotten worse and the tinnitus never went away, she set me up for a C&P hearing test in late January.

My question is:

Have the VA's standards for awarding disability for tinnitus changed since 1970? I am a little confused reading some of the posts in regard to current claims and awards. And, if the standards have changed, is there a way to appeal the original 0% rating?

Thanks for any advice you can offer and thanks for your time helping others.

Corwin